Winter weather and cold temperatures can wreak havoc on household plumbing.
As we all know, winter is here, and that means it’s cold outside. While you can keep yourself warm by throwing on another jacket or blanket, it’s important to remember that your pipes don’t have the same option. The water inside them can freeze and expand, causing major problems throughout the winter season.
Want to avoid that nightmare? We want to help you do so. Check out our steps you can take to prevent frozen pipes.
Step One: Thaw
If your pipes are starting to freeze, grab a hair dryer. Hold it about six inches away from the frozen area of the pipe, and move it back and forth to thaw out the pipes and get your water flowing again.
Step Two: Insulate
Pipes don't have jackets, so insulation is the next best thing! If you’re unsure about how to insulate your pipes, check out this video by the U.S. Department of Energy. Make sure you follow the step-by-step instructions to insulate the pipes in the cold areas of your house so you don’t have to worry about breaking out the hair dryer again.
Step Three: Open Doors
While we aren’t telling you to keep any major entry or exit points open, there are a few doors in your house that should stay ajar this winter season. Any cabinet doors underneath a sink should be left open to allow hot air to flow in and warm up the pipes.
Step Four: Remove Hoses
Before it gets too cold, make sure to go outside and pack your hoses away for the winter. It sounds simple, but this quick action will keep hoses from getting exposed to the elements, freezing or getting damaged over the winter months.
Step Five: Keep Water Running
Make sure to keep the water source furthest away from your water meater running with a small stream if the temperature outside gets below 10 degrees. Moving water doesn’t freeze, so this trick will ensure that your pipes don’t, either.
Step Six: Eliminate Drafts
Eliminate any drafts you may have in your house by tightly closing all windows and doors. If you’re not quite sure how to fix drafts, this guide from This Old House should send you in the right direction.
Thanks for taking the time to learn about ways to prevent your pipes from freezing this winter season.
Stay warm, and stay safe!
